The forecast cone no longer includes Louisiana. Local impacts will be primarily coastal flooding, winds and heavy rainfall from the system’s outer bands, the National Weather Service said.

Powerful Hurricane Rafael continues to remain a powerful hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico and while the current forecast does not have the storm hitting the U.S., it will bring life-threatening conditions to the Gulf Coast.

Tropical Storm Rafael may be swirling in open waters hundreds of miles away from the U.S. Gulf Coast, but moisture from the late-season storm triggered a dangerous flash flood threat across parts of the South over the weekend,